The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-20
THE CaocoDILk-


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The storyof saraou's New Pisy<1ss
Politics and srs Conception OF Nor.
ality and National Characteristics.
The great sensation In Pafb now IL
Sardou's new play which be has named
80 The Crocodile" The list Of celebrities
present on the first performance 10 unu-
sually long, and Mrs. Mackey sits 6usong
them, sandwiched by ambassador,
princes, dukes and Rothschilds, the sole
representative of our supper ten" or
"higher millions" i'' She was resplen-
dent in French blue, embroidered with
silver beads, over a skirt OF white lace"
and no doubt, in her own opinion, repre-
sented her country, or her "set," well
and truly.
/" lie Crocodile" shows the great French
play wright up in a new light. No faith
less wife, no intriguing lcver-if he wrote
e 80 that his daughter might see one OF
her fathers plays, he certainly succeeded
80 far as the absence OF immortality 10
concerned. Whether the child will ap-
preciate the deeper motives OF tho plot.
the illusions to government, the social
and political economy, Is another Ques-
ton but she will certainly enjoy the
scenic display, the beautiful costumes !;
will laugh over the ridiculous English
woman, the verbose DutcLman and the
Siamese prince, who has learned enough
Of European civilization to shock his
worshiping protector with his PARIS
slang and will sy mpathize with, If she
does not thoroughly appreciate, the trials
of the hero and heroine.
factor and is urged by remorse and the po-
lice to seek his fortune and hide his shame
in foreign lands. The dramatist desires
to teach US that "a voluntary confession
atones for crime, !" and therefore he finds
in the fugitive all the good as well - the
great qualities necessary to compel our
interest and admiration:
The hero in his escape from Amster.
dam, the scene of his Disgrace. ID . pas
senger on board the Crocodile, which, in
the Indian ocean, takes fire and sinks.
Most of the passengers and . few Of he
sailors are saved, and find themselves
on an unInhabited island. where they
establish a government. The ssilors, :
rough lot, melted by the william. revolt.
seize the hero, who has been elected
governor. and when he refuses to reveal
where the ammunition which has been
saved from the ship is hid, prepare TO
hang him. They are, however, inter
rupted by the appearance Of pirates. At
tracted to the island bv the bonflres
which the prudent governor had forbid
den to light, but which the rebels, now
IN power, light nevertheless.
All the characters are carried OF ex-
cept the hero aud heroine. The two are
rescued and are taken, much against
their will, to Batavia. the home Of the
hero's uncle. now dead. Here they met
all their former companions, who had
been taken from the pirates. Among
them is the william, who has discovered
the hero's identity and reveals it, much
a. has already been told to the hero's adj
vantage.
sengers on the desert island and their
formation of a government, naturally
give the author scope for delineati,,G
character, for airing his pet views and
theories and for getting in an occaeional
dab at the politics and government Of
to-day. He has. apparently, presented
his concept on of tyres of various ma
tions. and in SD doing has brought to the
front at least one protest. The English
are angry and indignant that they
should be represented by a ridiculous
to be overmOdest. and who makes her.
self unbearabIe by considering herself,
because she is an English lady, superior
to every one else. Some of the won DIS
put into her mouth and some said con-
corning her, have already been taken up
by the English press and seriously dis
cussed. When the colony was debating
who shall be governor, she slips forward
and claims the right as being owner of
the island, inasmuch as all unoccupied
territory belongs to England.
an unjust attack on their claims and pre-
tensions. The English woman, desirous
Of obtaining piece OF soap belonging
to a poor Alsatian, is forced 10 nay 200
francs for it. "This, says the man who
has Lnade the bargain for the poor Wo-
man, els what understand q the gist
of the commercial treaties with Eng
lard. Here the English are affronted,
claiming the transaction to be nothing
more nor less than according to the laws
of supply and demand.
The Americans receive better treat
ment, being represented by . bright vi
vacious, independent girl with advanced
theories and opinions, but easily adapt
ing herself to the life Of privasi0n which
presents itself on the island. She b
travelling partly for pleasure. and at the
same time acts az correspondent for the
Boston Herald. Her American sisters
will, however, protest against one Of her
characteristics, that of smoking cigar
cites. Her marriage on the island with
the ship surgeon furnishes an excellent
opportunity to display feminine ingenu-
ity in the manufacture of toilets from the
natural productions of the island, and
the gowns Of flowers. shells and brilliant
plumage are magnificent.
JERKED HENCE.
Two Negro Murderero arc Given q